In the Sheriff's Protection

by Lauri Robinson

  All the boys in town enjoyed being at the Blackwell residence. “They’ll be fine,” Tom said. “You sit right there. I’ll check on Sadie.”

  “Please do, and tell her I love her.”

  Tom nodded at the same time he knocked on the bedroom door. A moment later, it opened a crack. Relief flooded over him to see Clara.

  Keeping the door closed except that tiny crack, she said, “We need the doctor.”

  “He’ll be here in a minute. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. Sadie’s the one having a baby and I have to help her get her nightgown on.” Glancing toward the sofa, where Rollie sat holding his head with both hands, she said, “Keep him out of here.” There was a soft mumble in the background before Clara said, “And everyone else.”

  She closed the door before he had a chance to respond one way or the other.

  A second later, she opened the door again. “Except the doctor.”

  The door closed again, and Tom turned about. Rollie’s head was now hanging between his knees.

  Tom paced the room, wondering what was taking the doctor so long, while keeping everyone else out. Which wasn’t easy, since practically every woman in town tried to convince him Sadie needed her assistance. He agreed that she might, but stated that Clara was with Sadie and until Doc Graham said so, no one else could enter the room.

  Most agreed readily; others took more convincing. Especially Martha, but she readily found a purpose when he asked her to go let Fiona Blackwell know what was happening and to keep Rollie’s sons at her place until otherwise notified. The last thing Rollie needed was those two rambunctious boys racing about.

  Nelson Graham finally arrived. Turned out he’d been called to the jailhouse. Hugh was claiming infection had set in in his shoulder.

  “There’s no infection,” Nelson said. “And knowing it was his wife who stitched him and you up is comforting. I’ll be glad for her assistance with Sadie.”

  Tom had nearly forgotten that Clara had been the one to doctor him and Hugh. Pride welled inside him as he said, “She’s good, Doc. Real good.”

  With a glance toward Rollie, Nelson said, “Don’t leave him alone, and keep him out here, no matter what you hear.”

  Looking at Rollie, who’d now flung himself backward and was staring up at the ceiling and mumbling, Tom said, “I won’t.”

  Nelson nodded as he knocked on the door and then entered the bedroom.

  Tom stationed Angus behind the front desk to let people know the dining room was closed and to inform the hotel guests of where they could find an evening meal.

  When Clara stuck her head out the door and informed him they needed a pot of boiling water, Tom did it himself, knowing Rollie, who had downed half the bottle of whiskey that had been delivered, couldn’t manage the task.

  Evening arrived, and Rollie, glassy-eyed and stumbling, was wearing out the carpet with his constant pacing. He was wearing out Tom’s nerves, too. He was a lawman, and there was no law that stated this was a part of his duties.

  If he agreed with what Josiah said about never marrying, he’d never be in the same position as Rollie. Josiah had stopped in early, excited at how well the trial had turned out. Tom was pleased that Hugh had gotten his due, a life sentence for the crimes he’d committed, but was also wondering what that meant for Clara and Billy.

  That was where his thoughts had been when a pain-filled scream had filtered through the closed bedroom door. Rollie had dropped to his knees, head bowed and hands clasped.

  Josiah had shaken his head and smiled. “We’re the smart ones, Tom,” he’d said. “Staying clear of women. Never getting married means you never have to go through something like this.” With a nod toward Rollie, Josiah had added, “Look at him. It’s not worth it. Anything that will bring a man to his knees is just not worth it. Of course, you already know that. Like me, you know you’re not a family man. We’re committed to taking care of the entire town rather than a select few. Sure can’t do both.”

  Josiah had left before another pain-filled scream sounded, and though he normally took all Josiah said with a grain of salt, Tom had to admit there was an ounce of wisdom in the mayor’s words. Perhaps more than an ounce.

  * * *

  It was late—had to be, the sun had long ago set—when Sadie’s baby finally made her entrance. A little girl, red and wailing, who wasn’t overly happy to leave her nest. “You did it,” Clara said to Sadie while taking the baby from Nelson Graham. “Just a couple more hard pushes and it’ll all be over.”

  “You have been excellent help, Clara,” Nelson said. “Almost as good as my wife.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Clara said while cooing to the tiny baby as she washed her with the now tepid water. Nelson had explained that Sylvia, his new wife, was his assistant, but she was feeling under the weather and didn’t want to pass anything on to patients this week. Clara hadn’t voiced her thoughts, but from what the doctor explained, she had to wonder if Sylvia was pregnant. The two of them were probably just so busy taking care of everyone else, they hadn’t realized it yet. Or maybe just didn’t want to tell anyone.

  She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to live in Oak Grove. There were so many people getting married, having babies, living lives that were indeed the kind she’d dreamed of more than once. Those thoughts, as all others, had her thinking about Tom. He was always on her mind. He’d be such an amazing father. And husband. No door would keep him out while his wife was having a baby. It was funny how she just knew things about him. Perhaps because he was the exact opposite of Hugh in every way.

  Cradling the clean and swaddled infant, she waited until the doctor signaled he was finished before she carried the baby over to Sadie. “Here she is, your precious daughter.” Laying the baby in Sadie’s arms, Clara whispered, “She has all ten fingers and toes. I counted.”

  “Thank you, Clara. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

  Clara ran a hand over Sadie’s head. “You would have had a baby girl, just like you did.” Then she said, “Let me get everything cleaned up. Then I’ll let Rollie in.”

  That happened a short time later. As Clara opened the door, three men turned her way. She wasn’t surprised to see Rollie, or even Tom, who made her heart skip a beat, especially the way he glanced toward the third man.

  Judge Alfords.

  Rollie’s long legs nearly tripped over themselves twice as he rushed across the room. “Can I see them now?”

  “Yes,” she said, her eyes once again on Tom. Judge Alfords nodded and walked out of the room.

  The door closing behind her startled her slightly, but understanding Rollie and Sadie needed privacy, she stepped away from it. Tom met her in the center of the room, and a great desire to have his arms wrap around her washed over her from head to toe. He was the strong one, not her. Strong and righteous and handsome, so very, very handsome.

  “How are you?” he asked while taking her hand. “You must be exhausted.”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Sadie did all the work. I just held her hand.”

  He let go of her hand and she regretted her words. She hadn’t meant it to sound the way it had.

  “Judge Alfords waited to talk to you because he’s leaving early in the morning.”

  She nodded, nearly having forgotten that she’d wanted to talk with the judge. “I do want to talk to him.”

  “I told him you’d be along shortly. That I wanted to talk to you first.”

  He seemed a bit unlike himself. Like he was nervous, which put her nerves on guard. “Why?”

  “Uh—well, to tell you that Billy’s upstairs. I sent Angus over to collect him when it started getting dark. Figured Fiona would have her hands full with her boys and Rollie’s for the night.”

  That was Tom. Knowing what she needed without being told. She’d wondered about Billy,
more than once, but had also known Tom would think of him. She’d never had that before, and shouldn’t have grown so used to it so quickly. But she had. “Thank you.”

  “And, well, I wanted to know if you need anything else. If there’s anything I can do for you.”

  He was so wonderful, so caring, so him, and giving in to the desire to still be held, be kissed again by him would be so easy. Therefore, she shook her head. Life had never been easy and wouldn’t start being so now. “No. Thank you, but there’s nothing.” Standing here, talking to him, was only making the desires inside her stronger. “I’d better go see the judge so he can get some sleep.”

  “I’ll show you to his room.”

  He took a hold of her elbow and the desire to simply lean closer to him sprang forth. She knew what room the judge was in, but she was selfish enough that she wanted Tom to stay at her side a bit longer. She’d seen him through the side door of the courtroom, and the way he kept looking to the back of the room. She’d also seen the empty seat beside him, and had wished she’d been able to sit there. But knew she couldn’t. She had to stop all this before it became too late. Hugh may have been found guilty, but it wasn’t over. Not for her, and may never be.

  They’d arrived at the judge’s door and she drew in a breath for fortitude.

  “Would you like me to come in with you?” Tom asked.

  “No, you must be tired.”

  “Not at all.”

  He had the ability to make her smile with hardly any effort whatsoever. “Well, you should be. I am.”

  “I’ll wait and see you upstairs afterward.”

  Though his words were innocent, they sent a warmth throughout her body that she hadn’t experienced in a very, very long time. Shaking her head, she knocked on the door. “No, please don’t wait.”

  The judge opened the door and she slipped inside without waiting to hear Tom’s response. He was just too kind, too good, too respected for her.

  “Please have a seat, Mrs. Wilson. You’ve had quite a day.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor.”

  “I’m glad you requested a meeting. When I heard about Mrs. Austin, and that you were helping her, I was afraid if we waited until morning, there might not be time. I’m leaving on the first train, along with, well, with your husband, to see he arrives in Leavenworth.”

  “That’s where he’s going?” She’d heard of Leavenworth, the prison there. Everyone had. It was an outlaw’s worst nightmare.

  “That’s my recommendation, and I intend to see it’s fulfilled.”

  “Is it appropriate for me to thank you for your decision today?”

  His smile softened his aged face. “Yes.”

  “Then thank you.” As the truth bubbled up inside her, she admitted, “I believe you saved my life today.”

  “I believe Tom Baniff did that by arresting your husband and bringing him to see justice was done.”

  She closed her eyes to gather her emotions. “T—Mr. Baniff already saved my life twice. I’d requested there not be a third time, but I guess he didn’t listen.”

  “Or he did. Knew what needed to be done and did it.” With another gentle smile, he said, “That’s the kind of man Tom is. One of the best I know. As a man and a lawman. This town is lucky to have a man of his caliber. Far luckier than most. Without Tom, Oak Grove wouldn’t be the safe, friendly place it is.”

  Everything he’d said, she’d already thought about. This town was lucky to have Tom, and wouldn’t be the same without him. Others felt that way, too. The doctor had talked about how not only the serenity, but the progress of Oak Grove, rested on Tom’s shoulders.

  “I agree.” Too unstable to continue talking, and thinking, about Tom, she said, “I wanted to talk to you about—”

  “Forgive my interruption, but before we get to that, I have something I need to tell you about. It concerns those coins you brought in.”

  As she’d feared. It wasn’t over. Might never be. Hugh had always said she was an accomplice by being married to him. “All right.”

  “If you had tried to spend one, just one, you’d have been arrested.”

  “I assume they were stolen.” Everything had always been stolen. Hugh never acquired anything legally. She shrugged. “They weren’t mine to spend.”

  “They’re also fake. The government’s been looking for them for years. Those coins were made to dupe the Indians. Over ten years ago a governmental official decided to have fake gold coins made and given to the Indians in exchange for land in Nebraska. It was an underhanded deal that few knew about, and no one was ever prosecuted for it because the coins were robbed from the Indians, and they’d never surfaced, until today.” He lifted his bushy brows. “There is also a five-hundred-dollar reward for their recovery.”

  There was a buzzing noise in her ears. “Reward?”

  “Yes, reward. Add that to the five hundred the slaughterhouse put up for the capture and conviction of the man responsible for murdering their agent, you have one thousand dollars coming your way. I’ll see that it’s delivered to you.”

  The buzzing in her ears was louder, and she pressed a finger in each ear, trying to make it stop. It didn’t, and this was impossible. “One thousand dollars?”

  “Yes, one thousand dollars. Enough for you and your son to start over.”

  So much had happened, and it all seemed unreal.

  “You didn’t know about the reward on your husband, did you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Well, now you do.” He shuffled some papers lying on the table. “Now, let’s get to the reason you wanted to see me about. I’m assuming it’s a divorce.”

  It was late, she was tired, and so much had happened that her mind didn’t want to function properly. “Yes, but I don’t know much about them. What I need to do.”

  “I do, and I already took the liberty to draw up the papers, that is if it is what you want?”

  She nodded, and admitted, “I never wanted to marry him in the first place.” There was more she’d have to admit someday, but those things were still too hidden deep down.

  Judge Alfords explained everything thoroughly, including how Hugh, now as a convicted felon, no longer had any rights. Not concerning her, or Billy. The judge also explained that he’d have to file the paperwork at the county seat before the divorce was final, and that he’d do that as soon as possible and notify her. Before she left the judge’s room, he also reminded her to take her traveling bag. It was now empty, and she was thankful for that. Was thankful for so many more things than she’d ever been before.

  Including that Tom had followed her request and wasn’t waiting for her. She was depending on him too much, and had to stop.

  The lamp in her room had been left lit, and turned down low. Billy was in the bed, and his clothes had been folded and set on the chair. So were her things, including her nightgown. She hadn’t used the nightgown since leaving home. Sharing the room with Angus last night, she’d slept in her dress—as Angus had pointed out this morning when he’d brought her the one from Martha.

  With a thousand dollars, she could pay Martha for the dress. Pay the Ryans the money she’d borrowed. She’d hoped they’d want to buy some of her land, but they’d insisted upon just loaning her the money instead.

  The thousand dollars would allow her to pay for this hotel room, too, and make the travel home easier for her and Billy. A pang shot across her stomach. Ignoring it and the cause of it, she crossed the room and set her traveling bag on the floor.

  Quietly, she slipped off the dress from Martha and draped it over the chair before putting on her nightgown, blowing out the lamp and crawling into bed beside Billy.

  He moaned slightly and then twisted to look at her. “Is it time to get up?”

  “No. Go back to sleep,” she whispered, kissing the top of his head.

  �
��I was hoping it was morning.” His yawn belied his words. “I had more fun today than I’ve had in my whole life.”

  Her smile was interrupted by her own yawn. “That’s good.”

  He flopped onto his back and closed his eyes, but rather than going to sleep, his eyes popped back open as he kept talking. “Wyatt and Rhett showed me where they bury the fish guts after fishing. We didn’t dig them up ’cause their pa says things that are buried need to stay buried. Brett, that’s their pa, said I can go fishing with them someday. And we rode their pa’s horses. They’re big, like him. It was just in the corral, but it was fun. And we played hide-and-seek and checkers and I ate something called dessert. It sure was good. You ever have dessert, Ma?”

  “Yes, I have, and I’m sure it was good.” Although Billy was excited over his day, sadness crept around inside her at all the things he’d missed out on back home. The only children he’d ever played with were the two Ryan girls who were older than him. And though she made sweets when possible, for some reason, she’d never called them dessert.

  “I told them I’ll come back tomorrow. I could’ve slept there like Kade and Wiley but Angus said you needed me here.” After another yawn, he asked, “What did you need me for?”

  “I missed you,” she whispered. “I hadn’t seen you all day.”

  “Oh.” After a pause, he asked, “I can go back tomorrow, can’t I?”

  She had no idea what tomorrow would bring, so merely said, “We’ll see. It’s late now. Close your eyes and go back to sleep.”

  He snuggled up against her side. “We played good guys and bad guys, too. You ever play that?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  She’d thought he’d fallen asleep when he spoke again.

  “They said there’s a robber in jail. That he robbed a train and shot people.”

  Her stomach clenched.

  “Is that Pa, Ma? Is that who they were talking about?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  It wasn’t far to his house, yet it was the loneliest walk Tom had ever taken. He’d waited on the street corner until he’d seen the light go out in Clara’s room, just to be sure she’d finally made it to bed before he’d headed for home.